Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. ~ Mark 11:11
I wrote the story in another page Twice saved, reflecting the Messiah journey to Jerusalem and my meditation on the narration. Yesterday, the preacher said that Mark is probably the most difficult account as he narrated without commenting. I thought that’s probably not true, because Mark actually wants us to understand from narration or story telling, the way he tells the story, the way he describes the actions and the events tells us a lot.
Here are few things that I learnt from hearing Mark’s account on the first two days of Jesus last week.
Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
- He was a determined Messiah. At this point, nothing would able to change his mind. Reflecting on the CD incident, I know that my wife is 100% determined. She won’t changed her mind about it. She will see it through and make sure it’s back. Similarly, Jesus is determined to go through the death. It’s the third time he predicted his own death.
But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
2. He was the meek Messiah. He came as Messiah or Savior or Anointed King. But He exercise his authority by dying and giving his life. He taught his disciples that the rule of his kingdom is opposite of this world. It’s not the king that bossing around, but the king that serves the subjects. What a meek Messiah.
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
3. He was the gentle Messiah. In Matthew’s gospel, it was not recorded that Jesus cleared the temple on the next day. But in Mark, he wrote down the timing. When he entered, it was already late. So he didn’t do anything. He went back. And he came back the next day to do what he wanted to do. In today’s world when we value efficiency and boast about accomplishment, we rush through things to get things done. Yet in Jesus’ last week, he amazingly always never in a rush. In a way, He deals very gently. He has the power and authority as we will see. Yet, he exercise it very gently. What a gentle Messiah.
May this week, the Lord help us to be gentle, meek, and determined just like Jesus.